Africa miners make significant new discoveries
Africa is seeing significant activity in the resources sector, with Vanadium Resources securing a brownfields site for its V-Iron vanadium and iron plant in South Africa. The site, located in the Highveld Industrial Park in Mpumalanga Province, was previously identified as the preferred location for the plant, which will process ore from the Steelpoortdrift project.
Vanadium Resources has been granted the right of first refusal over the site until July 31, 2027, with a 15-day pre-emptive right to secure the property in the event of third-party interest. This agreement enables them to complete an accelerated V-Iron scoping study and supports progression to a definitive feasibility study.
The brownfields site has established heavy-industrial zoning and significant environmental and utility footprints, including access to electricity, water, and gas infrastructure. It is also proximal to established rail and road logistics corridors and has access to a local skilled workforce with decades of metallurgical processing experience.
Vanadium Resources’ option to conclude a retention agreement secures exclusivity over the site for up to 12 months while they seek to secure financing and complete front-end engineering design. This is a significant step forward for the company, which is aiming to produce vanadium and iron from its Steelpoortdrift project.
Kaoko Metals has continued to pile on the gains after intersecting visible copper mineralisation at its copper-silver project in Namibia. The first two holes at the Otniel prospect returned 60.25m and 51.83m of visible copper mineralisation, respectively.
Related: Serbian election may be tonic for Strickland
Visual assessments identified numerous copper minerals, including chalcocite, cuprite, malachite, native copper, dioptase, and chalcopyrite. Drill core is being sampled and processed, with assays expected in 4-6 weeks. They are mobilising another diamond rig to support and expand the current drilling program.
Famien Resources has extended its gold exploration landholding in Cote d’Ivoire by 871km2, with the grant of the 376km2 Korhogo exploration licence and the acquisition of three exploration permit applications covering 757km2. The company has also surrendered a lower-priority 262km2 permit.
Reverse circulation drilling of the North Target along the Bonougbara Trend within the Gogo permit has confirmed the presence of gold mineralisation downdip of artisanal workings over a 400m strike length. Notable intersections include 8m grading 0.94g/t Au and 6m at 1.29g/t Au.
The company will plan follow-up RC drilling after completing the Tougbo permit drilling. At the Toumodi permit, reconnaissance stream sediment sampling generated a series of strong gold anomalies about 20km along strike from Montage’s Blaffo Guetto gold deposit.
Securing brownfields sites can significantly reduce costs and increase efficiency for companies. The use of existing infrastructure is a key factor in this.
